Combination switch



` c. s. KRoNMlLLr-:R

COMBINATION SWITCH Oct. 20, 1942.

Filed April 6, 1939 munter Carl G. Kronmller Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION SWITCH Carl G. Kronmiller, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn.,l a corporation of Delaware Application April 6, 1939, Serial No. 266,331

- the light of the accompanying drawing in 21 Claims.

This invention is directed to the field of automatic switching mechanisms and has as one of its objects to improve that type of mechanism wherein a pair of switches are sequentially operated by a condition sensitive element; such as, for eX- ample, a combination fan and high limit control actuated by means of a temperature sensitive device. v

A further object is to provide for individually adjusting both the switch closing and switch opening temperatures for each switch and to provide strain release connections whereby the temperature sensitive device can continue its movement to actuate one switch after the other switch has already been actuated.

l l A still further object is to provide a mechanical o interlock between the adjusting means for the fan and limit switches so that the fan switch can never be-adjusted to close at a temperature higher than thatat which the limit switch is adjusted to open.

It is also within the purview of this invention 'to make the adjusting means for the opening' value of the high limit switch removable so that this adjustment will be continuously under the control of the fan switch adjusting means through the mechanical interlock. It is also an object of the invention to make this interlock adjustable so that an adjustable differential may be maintained between the temperature at which the fan switch closes and that yat which the limit switch opens.

One of the uses to which such a. mechanism may be put is to control a hot air heating system where a fan isused to force the circulation of heated air through the house. In such a case the actuating thermostat for the two switches is placed in the bonnet of the furnace and the high limit switch is Wired in series with the main controlling thermostat (usually in one of the rooms) to limit the temperature of the air at the furnace. The fan switch controls the operation of the fan and is usually set to keep `the fan deenergized when the air in the bonnet is cool, and as soon as it warms up sufliciently to heat the house the which:

Figure l is a front elevation of the switch actuators and adjusting disk, the switches and associated structure having been omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the switches and their mountings with the actuating disk assembly removed;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the entire mechanism taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, the mercury switches and clips being shown in elevation, and

Figure 4 is a detailed section of the mechanism taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The switching mechanism of my invention has been shown as mounted Within the switch casing I I which is provided with the usual cover I2 shown as removably mounted by some suitable means such as the catch I3 and screw I4. Secured to the back of the casing II by any suitable means such as is shown at I5 is a tubular supporting member I6. A coiled bimetallic thermostat I8 is shown as being secured at one end to the tubular support I 6 by means of the screw I9. The other end of the bimetallic element I8 is secured to a rod 28 by means of the screw 2|. On an increase in temperature the bimetallic element I8 will unwind and rotate the rod 20 in a counterclockwise direction aswiewed in Figure 1.

The back of the casing II is provided with a hole 23 in which a sleeve 24 is suitably mounted as indicated at 25. The rod 20 extends longitudinally through the bimetallic element I8, support I6, and through the sleeve 24 within the interior of the casing II.

Mounted withinV the casing I I on the sleeeve 24 is a bearing washer 26. Also mounted on sleeve 24 is a pair of brackets 21 and 28 which are freely rotatable with respect to the sleeve 24. Bracket 2l is provided with an actuating arm 29 and the bracket 28 is provided with an actuating arm 30. Suitably secured to the bracket 21 is a mercury switch clip 32 which carries the mercury switch 33 which is held therein by means of the wire 34. Likewise, the bracket 28 supports mercury switch clip 35 which carries the mercury switch 36 which is held therein by means of the wire 3l. The

0 bracket 21 is provided with a second arm 40 which apparent as the following description is read in cooperates with two stops 4I and 42 which are formed on the bracket 43 which is secured to the back of the casing I I. As seen in Figure 2, when arm 48 is in engagement with the stop 42 the mercury switch 33 is in closed circuit position -and when the arm 40 is in engagement with the stop 4| the switch 39 will be in open circuit position. A leaf spring |35 having a bearing portion e6 is adjustably secured to the arm 40 by means of the screw 61. The inner end` of the arm 95 forceably engages the sleeve 2G as indicated in Figure 3 and the amount of force so exerted by the.a1m l5 is adjustable by the screw 31. The function of this arm is to provide a predetermined resistance to movement of the mercury switch 33 to ma tain 'it in its actuated position until it is positively actuated by arm 29 to another position.

The bracket 28 is likewise provided with an arm 50 similar to the arm i0 which cooperates with stops 5l and 52 on bracket 53 which is secured to the back of the casing li. The arm 59 is also provided with a leaf spring 55 for rictionally resisting the movement of the bracket 28 by means of its cooperation with the sleeve 29 as shown in-Figure 3. Spring justable by means of screw 49.

A spring clip 56 is mounted in the groove 51 at the end of the sleeve 24 to 'maintain the brackets 21 and 28 in assembled relation on the sleeve 24.

Mounted on the end of the rod 28 is a mounting member in the form of a sleeve 60. This sleeve is provided with an enlarged end 6| which has a shoulder 62, and an elongated reduced portion 63. The head 6| receives a screw 64 which engages the rod 20 to adjustably. position the sleeve 60 on the rod. l l

Mounted on the reduced portion 63 of the sleeve 60 and abutting the shoulder 62 is a hub 65 having a shoulder 66. Mounted on the hub 65 and engaging the shoulder 66 is a disk 61 which may be made of a transparent material for a purpose which will be described later. Also mounted on the hub 65 against the disk 61 is a bearing washer 10 and against lthe bearing washer is mounted a first actuator 1|. The actuator 1| is freely rotatable on the hub 65. Rotatably mounted adjacent the actuator 1| is a second actuator 12 and adjacent this actuator is an arm 13-which is adjustablysecured to a third actuator 14 also rotatably mounted on the hub. The adjustable connection takes the form of an arcuate slot 15 in the arm 13 through which extends the screw 16 which is screw-threaded lin the actuator 14. When the screw 16 is loosened in the slot the members 13 and 14 may be relatively adjusted by rotating one of them with respect to the other and sliding the screw 16 in the slot 15. After they have been brought into ad` justment the screw 16 is then tightened to maintain them in this relation.

yRotatably mounted on actuator 14 is a fourth actuator 80 and these members are maintained in assembled relation by means of a bearing washer 8| which is suitably fastened to sleeve 60 are made non-rotatable with respect to. each other by means of a at portiorLZ on the sleeve -60 with which the hub 65 cooperates as seen in Figures 1', 2, and 3.

Referring again/to Figure 1, it will be. seen that the disk ifis provided with a first slot 85 through which access may be had to the screw 55 is shown as ad-v the hub against thev the hub 55. The hub 65 and the'.

16 for relatively adjusting the members 13 and 14. The disk 61l ate slot 86 which has a scale as is provided with a second arcuindicated at 81.

A pin 88 extends through the slot 86 :and as seen in Figure 3, this pin is 89 to prevent it from slipping 86. Mounted over the pin on provided with a flange through the slot the other side of the disk 61 from the ange 89 is provided with a pointer 9| for cooperation with the scale 81 and a nger 92 which extends downwardly through the slot 86 to maintain the clip in a predetermined relationship with the slot 86. A nut 93 is screwed on the pin 88 so that the ilange 89 and clip 99 may be tightened against the disk 61 to maintain pin 88 in, any adjusted position along the slot 86. The clip 90 has the word On written on it to indicate that the adjustment of this pin determines the temperature value at which, the switch 36 is moved to on position.

Also adjustably mounted in the slot 86 is a second pin which is substantially identical with the pin 96. The pin 95 is also provided with a clip 96 having a pointer 91 for indicating the temperature value at which the switch 36 will be moved to 0E position.

A second arcuate slot 91 is located in the disk 61 opposite the slot 86. The slot 91 is provided with a pin 98 which is a duplicate of the pin 88 and a pin 99 which is a duplicate of the pin 95. Pins 88, 95, 98, and 99 are all supplied with indicating pointers and are all adjustable in the same manner. The adjustment of the pin 88 determines the temperature at which the switch 36 will be moved to on position and the adjustment of the pin 95 determines the temperature at which the switch 36 will be moved to olifA position. The actuating member 80 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm |00 which cooperates with the arm 29 on the bracket 21 to actuate the switch 33 to on position. The actuating member 1| is provided with a rearwardly extending arm |0| which cooperates with the arm 29 to move switch 33 to o position. The actuating member 12 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm |02 which cooperates with the arm 30 on. bracket 2B to move the switch 36 to on position and the actuating member 14 is provided with a rearwardly'extending arm |03 which cooperates with arm 30 to move switch 36 to foi position.

As the actuating members are all freely rotatable on the hub 65 some means must be provided for rotating them by the rod 20. This means takes the form of a spring wire |05 which engages at one lend the arm |02 of the actuating member 12 and at the the actuating member 14. The intermediate portion of the wire is wound around the hub 65 as indicated in Figure 3 and the eiect is'that the actuating members 12 and 14 are resiliently held in engagement with the pins 88 and 95, respectively. The wire |05 exerts sufficient force so that as the rod 20 is rotated the arms |02 and |03 actuate the switch 36 and on continued movement of the rod 20 the wire rlexes to permit the pins v|58 and 95 to separate from the actuating members.

A second wire |06 is provided for engaging the arm |00 at one end and arm |0| at the other end for resiliently forcing the actuating members 80 and 1| into engagement with-the pins 98 and 99. respectively.

It will be seen that the member 13 has an extension arm ||0 which will eventually engage the pin 98 if vthe pins 95 and 98 should be adjusted upwardly in their slots 86 and 91. The purpose of this is to provide a mechanical interlock between the adjustments of the pins 95 and 98 so that the pin 95 cannot be set to a lower temperature value than thel pin 98. It will also be seen that if the pin 95 were removed the is a clip 98 which other end the arm |03 of' v 2,299,580 movement oflthe arm |03 under the influence of its biasing spring would be limited only by the engagement-of the arm with the pin 88. In this manner the single adjustment of the pin 98 will not only adjust the temperature value at which the switch 3,3 will be moved to on position but it will also adjust the temperature value at which the switch 36 will be moved to "off position. The diiferential between these two values is adjusted by means of the screw 16 and the slot 15.

It will be appreciated that Figure 1 omits the showing of the switches 33 and 36 which are shown in Figure 2 so'that this ligure will not be confused by the showing of toomany overlapping parts and. that in Figure 2 the disk 61 rand the actuating members have 'been removed in order that the switch mounting will show up more clearly. Actually, as can be seen from an inspection of Figure 3, the disk and the actuating member assembly is placed on the end of the rod over the switch assembly.

The switch 33 may be used to control a fan as set forth in the objects of the invention and the switch 36 may be used as a limit control for the heater. switches as shown in Figure 2 would indicate vthe normal operating temperature at which time the air temperature in the bonnet of the furnace will be suiiiciently high to warm the rooms of the house if introduced therein and therefore the fan switchv 33 is in closed position. The temperature of the air, however, is not dangerously In such a case the position of the high and therefore the limit switch remains closed. In the event -that the heater for the furnace is energized the temperature of the air will increase which will cause the bimetallic element |8 to unwind and rotate4 the disk 61 in a counter-clockwise direction. the bracket 21 is engaging the stop 42 the Aarm 29 cannot be swung further in a counter-clockwise direction by the arm |00. The arm 29 will therefore preventvfurther movement of the acltuator 80 and' its arm |00 and continued rotation of the disk 61, which is permitted by the strain release spring |06 will cause pin 98 to separate from actuator 80. On further rotation of the disk 61 in a counter-clockwise.direction the arm |03 will engage arm 30 and raise it until the limit switch 36 has been moved to open position and the arm 50 moved into engagement with the stop 5|. This will deenergize the heater and cause a reduction in temperature which in turn will cause the bimetallic element I8 to wind up and rotate the disk 61 in a clockwise direction. Due to the eect of the spring arm 55 the switch 36 will remain in its actuated position until the arm |02 on the actuator 12 engages arm 30 to positively move the switch 36 to closed position. Thus it is seen that the temperature at which the switch 36 is moved to open position is determined by the position of the arm |03 which is controlled by the position of the pin 95. Also the temperature at which the switch is moved to on position is determined by the position of the arm |02 which is controlled by the adjustable pin 88.

Assuming that the room thermostat in control of the heater is satisfied, the heater will be deen,

As the arm 40 on of said switches is moved to lwill opentoa immediately upon the room temperature calling for heat and in order to prevent this the fan switch 33 is opened. This is accomplished by |0| engaging the 4arm'29 and raising it untilthe switch 33 moves to o; en position .nd the arm 40 engages the stop 4|. Any further movement of the disk 61 in a clockwise direction is permitted by the wires |05 and |06 flexing. It is seen therefore that the temperature at which the switch 33 is moved to open position is determined by the position of the arm |0| which is controlled by pin 39 and the temperatureat which the switch 33 is moved to closed position is determined by the position of the arm |00 which is controlled by the pin 98. As the pins 88, 95, 98, and 99 are each individually adjustable it is clear that in this instrument the opening and closing temperatures of each switch are individually adjustable.

As set forth above, it is impossible to adjust the temperature value at which the limit switch point below that at which the fan switch will be closed due to the arm ||0 engaging the pin 98. In some cases it may be desirable to maintain a xed temperature differential between the closing of the fan switch andthe opening of the limit switch. In this event the pin which determines the opening temperature of the limit switch is removed so that the arm H0 is moved into engagement with the pin 98. In this manner the adjustment of the pin 88 controls the position of the arm |00 and also of the arm |03 which arms control the closing of the fan switch and the opening of the limit switch. The adjustment provided by the screw 16 and the slot 15 determines the relative positions of the arm |03 and the arm |00 and in this manner the differential between the closing of the fan switch and the opening of the limit switch may be predetermined.

The disk 61 has been made transparent in this case so that the person making the various adjustments ca n see the positions occupied by the actuating members and in addition see the positions ofv the mercury switches and the arms by which they are moved. In this manner he can determine the exact condition of the switching mechanism at the time he is making the adjustment.

Various changes and modifications in this mechanism may occur to those who are skilled in the art and it is therefore to be understood that I am to be limited by the scope of the appended claims and not by the specinc embodiment disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, a member movable in accordance with the variations of a variable condition, a plurality of switches moved to open and closed positions by said member, and means for adjusting `the condition values at which said member moves each switch to both open and closed positions, said means including an inter` lock preventing one of said switches from being adjusted to be Imoved to closed position at a condition value higher than that at which another open position.

2. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, first and second switches, a member movable in accordance with the variations of a variable condition, a rst pair of actuators movable by said member for actuating said ilrst switch to open and closed positions respectively, a second pair of actuators movable by said individually adjusting may actuate said adjusted to be 4 member for actuatingfsaid second switch Yto open and closed positions respectively,and means for each actuator inlependently of the others, said means including an interlock preventing one of said switches from being adjusted to be moved to closed position at a condition value higher than that at which said other switch is moved to open position.

3. In a device of the' character described comprising in combination, a iirst switch of the type which must be positively moved in a member movable in accordaice with the variations in a variable condition, a rst actuator for actuating said switch to a rst position, a second actuator for actuating said switch to a second position, connections between said actuators and said member, and a second switch actuated by said member, at least one of said connections including a Astrain release whereby said member first switch and then continue its movement to actuate said second switch.

A 4. In a device of the prising in combination, a first switch of the type which must be positively moved in each direction, a member movable in accordance withthe variations in a variable condition, a rst actuator for actuating said switch to a first position, a second actuator for actuating said switch to a second position, connections between said actuators and said member, a second switch actuated by said member, at least one of said connections including a strain release whereby said member may actuate said rst switch and then continue its movement to actuate said second switch, and means for adjusting said actuators with respect to said member.

5. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, a first switch of the type which must be positively moved in each direction, a member movable in accordance with the variations in a variable condition, a first actuator for actuating said switch to a first position, a second actuator for actuating said switch to a second position, connections between said actuators and said member, a second switch actuated by said member, at least one of said connections including a strain release whereby said member may actuate .said rst switch and thenj continue its movement to actuate said second switch,

means for individually adjusting each of said actuators with respect to said member, and means for varying the value of the condition at which said member will actuate said second switch.

6. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, a rst switch of the type which must be positively moved in each direction, a member movable in accordance with the variations in a variable condition, a rst actuator.

for actuating said switch to a first position, a second actuator for actuating said switch to a second position, connections between said actuators and said member, a second switch actuated by said member, at least one of said connections including a strain release whereby said member may actuate said first switch and then continue its movement to actuate said second switch, means for individually adjusting each of said actuators with respect to said member, means for varying ,the value of the condition at which said member will actuate said second switch, and an interlock whereby one of said switches cannot be actuated at a higher value of said condition than the other switch.

'1. In a device of the character prising in combination,

described comeach direction,I

character described comi of the type each direction, a member movable in accordance with the value of a variable condition, first, second, third, and fourth actuators for said switches,

and connections including strain release means between said member and actuators, the arrangement being such rst switch to closed position and then said third actuator actuates said second switch to open posi- I tion, and on a decrease in the value of said condition said fourth actuator actuates said second switch to closed position and then said second actuator actuates said rst switch to open posi- .f

tion.

8. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, rst and second switches of the type which must be positively moved in i each direction, a member movable in accordance with the value of a variable condition, first, second, third, and fourth actuators for said switches,

` sition, and on a decrease in the value of said conactuator actuates said rst ,and second switches tion,

ldition said fourth actuator actuates said second switch to closed position and then Isaid second rst switch to open position, and means for in 'vidually adjusting each of said actuators with respect to said member.

9. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, rst and second switches of the type which must be positively moved in each direction, a member movable in accordance with the valve of a variable condition, first, second, third, and fourth actuators for said switches, and connections including strain release means between said member and actuators, the arrangement being such that on an increase in the value of said condition said iirst actuator actuates said first switch to closed position and then said third actuator actuates said second switch to open position, and on a decrease in the value of said condition said ourth actuator actuates said second switch to closed position and then *said second actuator actuates sa'd rst switch to open posimeans for individually adjusting each of said actuators with respect to said member, and an interlock preventing the adjustment of said rst actuator to close said rst switch at a highwhich said third er condition value than that at actuator opens said second switch.

l0. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, rst and second switches of the type which must be positively moved in each direction, a member movable in accordance with the value of a variable condition, rst, second, third, and fourth actuators for said switches, and connections including strain release means between said member and actuators, the arrangement being such that on an increase in the value of said condition said first actuator actuates said iirst switch to closed position and then said third actuator actuates said second switch to open position, and on a decrease in the value of said condition said fourth actuator actuates said second which must be positively moved in l that on an increase in the value of said condition said rst actuator actuates said a ditionv value than that at which said third actuator opens said second switch, and means for adjusting said interlock whereby the minimum differential between the closing of said first switch and the opening of said second switch may be predetermined. i

11. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, first and second switches of the type which must be positively moved inY each direction, a member movable in accordance with the value of a variable condition, first, second, third, and fourth actuators for said switches, and connections including strain release means between said member and actuators, the arrangement being such that on an increase in the value of said condition said first actuator actuates said first switch to closed position and` then said third actuator actuates said second switch to open position, and on a decrease in the value of said condition said fourth actuator actuates saidv second switch to closed position and then said second actuator actuates said first switch to open position, means for individually adjusting each of said actuators with respecty to said member, and an interlock between the adjusting means for said first and third actuators providing a predetermined minirnum differential between the adjustments of said last named actuators, any further adjustment of said first actuator after said predetermined differential has been reached causing a corresponding adjustment of said third actuator to maintain said predetermined minimum differential.

12. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, first and second switches of the type which must be` positively moved in each direction, a member movable in accordance with the Value of a variable condition, first, second, third,'and fourth actuators for said switches, and connections including strain release means between said member and actuators, the arrangement being such that on an increase in the value of said condition said first actuator actuates said first switch to closed position and then said third actuator actuates said second switch to open position, and on a decrease in the value of said condition said fourth actuator actuates said second switch to closed position and then said second actuator actuates said rst switch to open position, means for individually adjusting each of. said actuatorq,` with respect to said member, an interlock between the adjusting means for said rst and third actuators providing a predetermined minimum differential between the adjustments of said last named actuators any further adjustment of said first actuator after said predetermined differential has been reached causing a corresponding adjust-ment of said thirdactuator to maintain vsaid predetermined minimum differential, and

meansI for rendering the adjusting means for said third actuator ineffective whereby said third actuator is under the control of the adjusting means for said rst actuator at all times.

13. In a combined fan and high limit control, a fan switch, a limit switch, a member movable in accordance with variations in temperature, connecting means between said member and said switches, and means associated with said connecting means for i'ndividually varying the temperature at which said fan switch is moved to closed position and the temperature at which it is moved to open position, and the temperature at which said limit switch is moved to closed position and the temperature at which it ismoved to open position, said last mentioned means in- I cluding an interlock rendering it impossible to adjust said fan switch to close at a higher temperature than that at which said limit vswitch opens.

14. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, a rod, a device rotating said rod in accordance with the variations of a variable condition, a first mercury switch, means mounting said switch for rotation concentrically about said rod, first and second actuators comprising arms yieldably connected to said rod, said first actuator actuating said switch to open position, said second actuator actuating said switch to closed position, means for individually adjusting said actuators, a second mercury switch, and actuating means for said second switch also yieldably connected to said rod, said second mercury switch being actuated by rsaid actuating means independently of said first mercury switch.

15. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, a rod, a device rotating said rod in accordance with the variations of a variable condition, first and -second mercury switches, means mounting said switches for rotation about said rod, first and second actuators for moving said rst switch to open and closed positions respectively, third and fourth actuators for moving said second Aswitch to open and closed positions respectively, means connecting said actuators to said rod including strain release means whereby said rod may continue rotating to actuate one switch after the other switch has already been actuated.

16.*' In a device of the character described comprising in combination, a rod, a device rotating said rod in accordance with the variations of a variable condition, rst and second mercury switches, means mounting said switches for rotation about said rod, first and second actuators for moving said first switch to open and closed positions respectively, third and fourth actuators for moving said second switch to open and closed positions, respectively, means connecting said actuators to said rod including strain release means whereby said rod may continue rotating to actuate one switch after the other switch has already been actuated, and means for individually adjusting each of said actuators, said last mentioned means including an interlock making it impossible to adjust one switch to close at a y*higher condition value than that at which the other switch opens.

17. In a device of the character described comprising in combinatioma casing, a rod extending within said casing, a device rotating said rod in accordance with `the variations of a variable condition, a switchof the type which must be positively moved to each operative position, first and second actuators connected by strain release means to said rod for actuating said switch to open and closed positionsrespectively, .a plate mounted on said rod over said actuators, and

said plate for individually adjusting each actuator, said plate being of transparent material whereby the position of said actuators and switch is exposed to view,

18. In a device of the character described comprising in combination, a plurality of switches, a member movable in accordance with the variations of a variable condition, a plurality of actuators movable by said member for actuating said dependently of the others, an interlock preventing y' from being adiusted'to tion at a condition value higher prising in combination,

switches being of the typev plurality ofswitch eiements 'mounted to rotate f concentrically about said member and moved by to move said one positively moved switch to a iirst position, another o! said actuators being adapted to moversaidY one switch to a second position, and connec ons between said actuators and said member, the 'remaining switch or switches'being actuated by said member, at least one of said connections including a strain renecting means for lease whereby said member may actuate said one positively moved switch and then continue its movement to actuate another of said switches.V

20. In a device of the character described coma member including yieldable actuating arms movable. in accordance with the variations of a variable condition,y a

saidi arms, means for the condition values at independently adjusting which said arms move at least one switch to .both open and closed posi-.

tions, and interlock means for preventing one of said arms from moving another voi said switches to openposition at a condition value higher than that at which said one switch is movecLvto closed position.

2l. In a combined fan and high limit control, a fan switch, a limit switch, a member movable in f' accordance with variations in `temperature, connecting means between said member and said switches, and means associated with said conperature at which said fan switch is moved to closed position and the temperature at `which it is moved to open position, yand the temperature at which said limit switch is moved`to open position, said last mentioned means including an interlock rendering it impossible to adjust said fan switch to close at a higher temperature than that at which said limit switch opens.

CARL G. KRON'MIILER.

individually varying the tem- 

